Inventors:
Frank Klujber - Redmond WA
Assignee:
The Boeing Company - Seattle WA
International Classification:
F03B 1108
F04D 2970
Abstract:
The axial gap (30) between a turbofan section (18) in a turbofan aircraft engine (10) is enlarged so that foreign matter thrown radially outwardly by the fan blades (48) will travel vectors (52, 54) which are located forwardly of the forward boundary (28) of the splitter wall (26). This results in the foreign matter being expelled through the fan duct (14) the engine (10), preventing it from entering into the engine core (20). Forward extensions (56, 58) of the fan blades can also be used for shifting the vectors (52, 54) forwardly. Smaller forward extensions (56, 58) can be used in combination with a partially widened gap (30) for positioning the vectors (52, 54) forwardly of the splitter wall forward boundary (28).